OBJECTIVETo compare the effect,safety,and advantage of flexible fixation with paperboard and pad versus short leg plaster in treating the fifth metatarsal base fracture,and establish the standard of diagnosis and treatment of the fifth metatarsal base fractures in flexible fixation with paperboard and pad.

METHODSFrom June 2010 to March 2013,59 patients with the fifth metatarsal base fracture were treated with paperboard and pad fixation or short leg plaster. Patients were enrolled and divided into paperboard and pad treatment group (paperboard group) and short leg plaster treatment group (plaster group) randomly according to the random number table. In paperboard group,there were 29 cases including 9 males and 20 females with an average age of (51.79±11.40) years old; the average course of injury was (11.59±6.58) hours. In plaster group, there were 30 cases including 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (52.13+17.34) years old ;the average course of injury was (11.03±7.06) hours. According to whether the fracture line across the articular surface, in paperboard group there were 14 cases of type A,15 of type B; in plaster group,16 of type A, 14 of type B. According to the degree of dislocation,in paperboard group there were 16 cases of degree I ,13 of degree II ; in plaster group,20 were degree I ,10 were degree II. Fracture was restored according to the type in manual. Patients in paperboard group were treated with paperboard and pad, and patients in plaster group were treated with short leg plaster. Fracture was fixed for 4 to 6 weeks according to fracture healing. On the 2nd, 4th,6th, 8th week and 3rd, 6th month after fixation, patients were followed up, and the foot function score was used to evaluate the function of injured foot. X-ray of injured foot was taken on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week were used to assess fracture healing.

RESULTSAll patients got complete follow-up. The X-ray result showed that all fracture reached at clinical healing on the 8th week after fixation without skin ulcer,nonunion and displacement of fracture. From the 4th to 8th week after fixation, paperboard group had a higher X-ray score than plaster group, but the difference between two groups had no statistically significance. Repeated analysis result showed that there was interact at different time point and between groups,the difference had statistically significance (P<0.01). The foot function score showed that at all time point, paperboard group had a higher score than plaster group, and on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th week, it had statistically significant difference(P<0.01) between two groups. On the 6th months after fixation,the excellent and good rate of paperboard group was 93.10%, higher than that of plaster group, which was 86.67%. But it had no statistically difference(P=0.483) between two groups.

CONCLUSIONUsing paperboard and pad fixation to treat the fifth metatarsal base fracture has the advantage of simplicity operating,reliable fixation, satisfactory effects, easily obtainable material.